Method of and apparatus for packaging



Oct. 11, 1932.

E. MALLlNCKROD T, JR., ET AL 1,881,783

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING Original Filed March 14. 1927 16Sheets-Shet 1 l, l r 13 9 2 9 55 l3 03 Q l 4 I W 285 j i E 1 7, 1: 7 A 1I 4 7 I .d 4

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METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING Original Filed March 14. 1927 16Sheets-Sheet 2 Octll, 19 E. MALLINCKRODT, JR., ET AL 1,881,783

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METHOD OF ANDAPPARATUS FOR PACKAGING Original Filed March 14. 1927 16Sheets-Sheet 4 9 1932- E. MALLINCKRODT, JR, ET AL 1,881,783

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E. MALLINCKRODT. JR., ET AL METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PACKAGINGOriginal Filed March 14. 1927 16 Sheets-Sheet 7 Oct. 11, 1932.

E. MALLINCKRODT, JR., ET AL METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING Origina1 Filed March 14.

192 16 Sheets-Sheet 8 aht QwN m3 MAR Oct 1932- E. MALLINCKRODT, JR... ETAL 1,881,783

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING Original Filed March 14. 192'. 16Sheets-Sheet 9 0 'IIIIIIIII VII/III I 1932- E. MALLINCKRODT. JR, ET AL1,831,783

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING Original Filed March 14 1eSheets-Sheet 1o .I. a n

@BL 1932 E. MALLINCKRODIJR, ET AL 1,881,783

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING Original Filed March 14. 1927 16Sheets-Sheet l2 fi z/ g 1 6.

Get. 11, 1932.

E. MALLINCKRODT, JR" ET AL METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PACKAGINGOriginal Filed March 14, 1927 16 Sheets-Sheet 15 E. MALLINCKRODT, JR

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING ET AL 1,881,783

Oct; 11, 1932.

16 Sheet-Sheet 14 Original Filed March 14, 1927 1932 E. MALLINCKRODT.JR., ET AL 1,881,783

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING Original Filed March 14. 1927 16Sheets-Sheet 15 1 1932. MALLINCKRODT, JR., ET AL 1,381,783

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING Original Filed March 14. 1927 1 6Sheets-Sheet l6 /2 a fii w/gig 511 Nihrayen om f q; /05 F p X Egg KFSWMx v Patented Oct. 11 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EDWARDMALLINCKRODT, JR., ST. LOUIS, AND HENRY V. FARR, OF FERGUSON, MIS-SOURI, ASSIGNORS TO MALLINCKROD'I CHEMICAL WORKS, OF ST. LOUIS,MISSOURI,

A CORPORATION OF MISSOURI METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PACKAGINGApplication filed March14, 1927, Serial No. 175,096. Renewed February29, 1932.

This invention relates broadly to a method of, and apparatus forpackaging materials; and with regard to certain more specific features,to a method of, and apparatus for packaging ether or a like perishablematerial.

Among the several objects of the invention may be noted the provision ofrelatively high speed, automatic means for packaging ether 1 which isused for anaesthesia and other purposes, where all possibledeterioration during periods of storage should be prevented; theprovision of improved automatic means for packaging ether or the likeout of the presonce of air or a similar fluid deleterious to the etheror the like, and packaging it in the presence of an inert fluid such asgaseous nitrogen or a like non-deleterious fluid; the provision ofimproved automatic means for replacing the air found in the packages tobe used, by the said inert gas, prior to the packaging process per seand using said inert gas ambiently duringthe packaging process; theprovision of a means of the class described which requires for itsseparate elements of construction only inherently rugged members, whichcan be depended upon to provide continuous and satisfactory service; andthe provision of apparatus for carrying out the process described whichshall be low in cost and upkeep, and which is simple in operation and inmanipulation.

Another object of the invention is to displace, the deleterious fluidsuch as air in'the packages with a non-deleterious fluid such asnitrogen and also to absorb the deleterious fluid by diffusion.

Another object of the invention is to provide a counter current betweenthe deleterione and the non-deleterious fluids in order to vide simplemeans for compensating a plurality of measured liquid charges fortemperature changes.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed outhereinafter.

In the patent application of Edward Mallinckrodt, J12, SerialNo-118,440, filed June 25, 1926, was disclosed a method for packagingmaterials in which alternate evac-' nations were made from chamberscarrying the packages to be filled and the device as a whole wasmaintained in an ambient atmosphere of non-deleterious fluid.

The present invention involves either or both the method of diffusion ordisplacement between the non-deleterious and deleterious fluid. Noevacuations are used, nor is the device as a whole maintained in anambient atmosphere of non-deleterious fluid, although the fluid beingfilled is maintained in an ambient atmosphere of non-deleterious fluid.These two methods, it is believed, present the only means foraccomplishing the end sought, namely, the automatic packaging of pureether.

.The invention accordingly comprises the elements and combination ofelements, features of construction, and arrangements of parts which willbe exemplified in the structure hereinafter described, and the scope of'the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which is illustrated one of variouspossible embodiments of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the machine showing the approximate slopethereof;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device showing certain parts broken away;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of a dial feed mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken substantially on line 44 of Fig. 18and shows a valve and cam plate;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 19;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken'through one of the can filling unitsof the device, showin a can in its lowered osition Fig. is a viewsimilar to ig. 6 showing section v broken away Fig. is a fragmentarysection taken on 1 line 10-10 of Fig. 12;

on line 12-12 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged section taken on line 13-13 of Fig. 2, showingpartsbrokenaway;

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig.- 10 taken on line 1111 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 12 is a cross section taken substantially Fig. 14 is a crosssection taken on line 14-14 of Fig. 13 but showing certain added partsnot shown in said Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a view similar to Fig. 14 taken clockwise and to the rightthereof, when the machine is viewed from above;

Fig. 16 is a cross section taken on line I 16*16 of Fig. 6 but showingcertain added portions not shown in said Fig. 6 and also shows partsbroken away;

Fig. 17 is a cross section taken substantially at elevation 17 -17 ofFig. 4 but showing added elements of certain safety fill devices;

Fig. 18 is a crosssection taken substantially at elevation 18--18 ofFig. 4;

Fig. 19 is a plan view of a valve plate and i is taken substantially atelevation 1919 of eral views of the drawings.

General construction Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2,there is illustrated at numeral 1 a 1 base having an upper surface 3machined on approximately a four degree slope, the purpose of which isto slope the apparatus as a whole, such that the supply tank 24 thereofwill have a greater depth of liquid (ether on one side than on another(see line A- of Fig. 1). By sloping the machine in-this manner, theeffect to be described is attained, and yet all parts may be machined inthe right angular relationships, such as are usually employed in machineconstruction.

The base 1 supports five members, namely, first, a punch pressP of moreor less conventional construction (the modifications required beingnoted herein), second, a. standard S for supporting a cap supply tube 5,

third, a table T supported on suitable legs 7 fourth, an over travelingbracket B jome at its left end to said press P and at its'right end tosaid base 1, and fifth, a base E for supporting the main frame and partsof the device.

The stationary base E supports a stationary spoked frame or wheel 9carrying at its outer periphery a can-raising cam 11 and carrying on itsinner hub a stationary cam and)valve plate 13 (see also Figs. 4 and 6 to8 by said base E and rests on an anti-friction ball 17 located within asuitable recess in said base.

The shaft 15 is rotatable with res ect to the wheel 9 and also to thevalve p ate 13 bolted to the wheel 9, the wheel 9 being revented fromturning with respect to the ase E by means of a crown or other suitablecoupling 19.

At a short distance above the valve plate 13, the shaft 15 isprovided-with a flanged hub 21 made fast to said shaft. Outside of theperiphery of plate 13, the hub 21 engages with a can supporting wheel 23(see Figs. 4, 6.to 8 and 14 to 18)., The construction of wheel 23 willbe described more in detail later.- a The shaft 15 continues upwardly toa point 22 (Fig. 9) where it is'shouldered and adapted to receivethereon gwith a force fit and key connection) a sup y tank 24 to thebottom of which is cast a ange 25 (see also Figs. 1 and 6 to 8).

Positioned between the flange 25 and the cam supporting wheel 23 is aperipheral cam track 27, supported by means of a bracket 29 extending tosaid table T, a bracket 31 extending to said bracket B and a bracket 33extending to the cap supply tube 5. As will be seen later, the cam 27 isadapted to raise and lower certain annular nitrogen filling tubes 35which telescopically coo erate with certain stationary ether tubes 3 atpoints An upstanding shaft 15 is rotatably borne" within the confines ofsaid flange 25 (see also Fig. 20) I a Dial feed mechanism M (see Figs. 1to 3) that any other suitable number of movements may be employed.

a In order to accomplish the result, thirtytwo notches 39 are equallyspaced in the periphery ofv said wheel. One of said notches 39 isadapted to be engaged by a spring pressed locking pawl 41 each time thatthe wheel 23 approaches a halt. The locking pawl 41 tends to maintainits position against the wheel 23 because of a spring 53. The pawl 41 ispivoted on said table T. At the same time another one of said notches 39is about to be engaged by another pawl 43 (pressed by a spring 45) saidpawl 43 being pivoted to a slider 47 held in guides 49 located on saidtable T. The spring 45 is also mounted on said slider 47.

An arm 51 of the pawl 41 is normally held by the spring 53 so that thepawl engages the wheel 23. The spring 53 leads to a stationary pin 55. Aplate 57, held fast to the slider 47, pivotally carries a releasing bar59 adapted to engage a pin 56 on the plate 57 when the slider 47 movesto the right (Figs. 2 and 3). The other end of the bar 59 functions towipe the arm 51 of the pawl 41 whenever the slider 47 starts its forwardmovement.

The slider 47 is moved back and forth by means of the oscillatingmovements of a bell crank 61 which is connected to said slide 47 by anadjustable connecting rod 63. The oscillations of the bell crank 61 aredue to a connecting rod 65, moved by means of a crank pin 67eccentrically located with respect'to the crank shaft 69 of said pressP. Adjustment of the throw of the slider 47 is obtained by moving thepin 67 in a slot 71 provided for in a crank disc 73 and the position ofthe throw (after its length is determined) may be adjusted at the rod63.

The operation of the dial feed 1s as follows:

The shaft 69 rotates at a predetermined speed, being suitably geared tothe drive shaft 75 of the press P, said drive shaft 75 receiving motionfrom a belt 77 and pulley 79. The motion com-es from a suitable source,not shown. The linkage 65, 61, 63 and 47 is thereby oscillated. Movementstarts from a position such as shown in Fig. 2. The pawl 43 moves ashort distance without efiect on the wheel 23. At this time the bar 59opens the pawl 41 thereby releasing the wheel 23 for movement. Next, thepawl 43 drops into its respective notch and drives the wheel 23 forwardone space. In the meantime the bar 59 passes over the arm 51 of the pawl41, whereby the pawl 41 reengages the wheel 23 to drop into the nextnotch 39 whereby the wheel is halted at a predetermined position.

Upon return of the slider 47, the pawl 43 automatically leaves its notchand the bar 59 y is itself moved by a contact with the pawl 41 becauseof the resiliency of the spring 72.

- The pawl 41 is not withdrawn from its notch.

Thus, for each revolution of the shaft 69 of the press the wheel 23 ispositively advanced of a revolution.

Fig. 2 shows the dial feed mechanism M at the left-hand of its throw andFig. 3 shows said mechanism at the right-hand end of its throw. e

Can control From the above it will be seen that the can wheel 23 movesintermittently and, in order to receive and later eject a can at eachperiod of rest, the outer peripheral portion 81 of said wheel 23 isprovidedwith thirty-two re cesses or pockets 83, each one of which isadapted to snugly receive a can controller or pusher piece or movablepocket 85 (see Figs. 6 to 8 and 14 to 17). The pushers or pockets 85 areso formed that each one is adapted to snugly receive a can from a cansupply mechanism K (Figs. 1, 2 and 2 1), that is, when the pusher 85 isin one of its retracted positions and the wheel 23 at a certain point ofrest.

Each pusher 85 is provided with a slidable slotted arm 87 arrangedradially of the wheel 23 in polygonal or rectangular guides 89. Eachslotted arm 87 has fastened at its inner portion a radially arrangedstem 91 borne in a bearing 93, also formed in said wheel 23. The innerends of the stems 91 are provided with upwardly extending roll followers95 which engage a cam track 97 formed in the lower surface of saidstationary valve and cam plate 13. The track 97 has the form shown inFigs. 14, 15, 19 and 21.

It will be understood from the above, that the cam and valve plate 13 isstationary and that the "shaft 15 rotates the wheel 23 (by means of thehub 21) with the radially sliding pusher members described. Theengagement of the moving roll followers 95 with the stationary cam track97 results in said pushers 85 receiving a radially outward and inwardmovement once for every revolution of the wheel 23. They cannot twistout of alignment because of the polgonal hearings or guides 89.

As will be seen hereinafter, the press P is stationed at the radial apexof the track 97 and hence the pushers 85 are adapted to push cansoutwardly from the wheel 23 when the press station PS is reached (seeFigs. 1, 8, 14, 15 and 21). The cam track 97 is so shaped that by thetime the can supply station CS is reached, the pushers 85 have beenagain retracted. They then remain retracted until need for their outwardmovement is again required near and at the press station PS. v 1

Can. supply means K The conventional can supply means K is il-' the cansD and is fed over a pulley 103. A

portion of the can supply means K is broken away at Q in Fig.1 forpurposes of clarlty but Fig. 2 shows the continuity of the construction.I

The can supply station CS for this can supply means is so arranged thatwhen the wheel 23 stops, a can D is pushed into the pocket or pusher 85,which pusher is then in retracted position ready to receive thecan D. Asthe wheel 23 makes its next movement the said can D is carried away withthe wheel 23, being prevented from falling out ,of the wheel 23 by arail 105 formed therearound and held on suitable supports 34. As eachcan-D moves away in the wheel 23, the next one is automatically pushedinto the next pusher 85. ,The wheel 23 is thus being con tinuouslyloaded .at the can supply station CS. j

Filling control means As each can D is pressed into its pocket orpusher85, it engages a control pin 107 (see Figs. 6 to 8' and 17). Eachpin 107 is slidably borne in the wheel 23 and extends loosely throughits; respective pusher 85.

thereby providing means for permitting movement of the pusherindependently of the pin. An inner head 109 of each pin 107 bearsagainst an actuating arm 111, said' arm 111 being fastened to a hollowrotatable rod 113 rotatably borne at points 115 within the wheel 23.This rod 113 has fastened at its lower end a lug 117 pivotally' carryingan actuating piece 119. The hollow rod 113 is normally pressedcounter-clockwise (viewed from above) by a spring 121 so that saidactuating piece 119 is not adapted to engage a peripherally arrangedlifting cam 123 on the wheel 9 but lies directly on said wheel (see- 8).The outer end 125 of each actuating piece 119 is adapted to engage a.

lifting stem-127 of the valve system of the next adjacent valve system,that is, when the actuating piece is rotated clockwise into I on the cam123 to act ate the next successive stem 127, which is t e stem for thecan in question. Each can functions its own stem 127 but each stem 127is slidably borne in the bearing piece 113 adapted to actuate the nextsuccessive stem 127 (see Fig. 17) However, whenever a can is sopositioned, the actuating piece 119 is thrown so that it may ride on thecam 123 and. thereby be caused by the cam 123 to actuate the nextsuccessive stem 127.

By referring to Fig. 9 it will be seen that the actuating rods 127 passupwardly into bearing and sealing tubes or glands 129 located in, thesupply chamber 24. There each one is equipped with an overhanging arm131 which cbntrols the movement of a spring pressed ether valve 133adapted to permit emptying of a measuring'cup 135 into one of saidvertically stationary ether supply pipes 37. Each of the supply pipes,as will be seen later, is adapted to supply ether to a can D. I

From theabove it is evident that if, due to one cause or another, one ofthe pushers 85 should failto receive a can there is no possibility ofether flowing and spilling out of its respective fill tube, because nocan is present to actuate the member 119 so that said member 119 iscontrolled by the cam 123. In other words, in order that the cam 123 maybecome effective to cause opening of an ether valve 133, it is necessarythat a can be positioned in the respective pocket. If a can is not sopositioned the actuating member 119 will not engage the cam 123. It isnow evident that the rail 105 also maintains the cans in theirrespective places against-the pressure of the pins 107. It is alsoevident that the slots 137 in the arms 87 are for the purpose ofclearing the stems 127.

Can lifting means In order to lift each can (for purposes to bedescribed) as it moves around with the wheel 23, there is providedbeneath each movable pocket of the pusher 85 and elevator I39 slidablyarranged in the wheel 23 (Figs. 6 to 8). The top of the elevator 139 isflush with the surface or platform of the wheel 23, that is, when saidelevator is in its lowermost position. In order that the elevator 139may be raised and lowered, the cam 11 is arranged on the rim of thestationary wheel 9 to engage the lower ends of said elevators 139. Alowered position of the elevator 139 is shown in Fig.6 and an elevatedposition in Fig. 7.

cm zzin heads 16). The heads are so arranged that they.

form a practically continuous peripheral surface 149 for purposes to bemade clear (see Fig. 16). The'ring 145 provides the polygonal bearingsor guides 89, referred to above.

Each head- 147 (see Figs. 6 to 8 and 16) comprises a casting 151 boltedto said ring 145. The ring 15 providing with slightly tapering holes 153adapted to receive in sealing contact lower portions 155 of saidcastings 151. The lower portion 155 of each cast-

